The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-10-07
rHE Nnw

John P. Rea was born Oct. 13. 1910, in Lower,
Oxford township, Chester county, Pa HIS
father owned a WOODEN factory, and ne passed
TENDER, 1860, when he went to Ptqua, ONO,
where he taught school When the war broke
out he promptly enlisted and became . memper
Of Company b, Eleventh 0hia infantry, He
served with this regiment four months and was
then commissioned as second lieutenant OF
Company ! First Ohio cavalry: promoted 70
first lieutenant March IL, 1852, and in April OF
the following year TO the rank Of captain, and
was breveted major. He served in the regiment
three years and four months, and was absent
but ten days, seven as prisoner and three days
on sick leave. After returning from the war he
entered the Wesleyan college, at Delaware, Ohio.
and graduated in the classical course
IN june, 1867 During the vacation q
o. J. Dickey Of Lancaster. Pa as a law student,
and was admitted to the bar there IN August,
1868. He became associated with Judge hickey,
and in March, 1859, was appointed one OF three
notaries public in Lancaster by Gov Geary, but
April IL, 1869, was appointed assessor OF inter-
nal revenue by President Grant for the Ninth
district Of pennsylvania, which office he held
until IL was abolished by law in 1873. In 1859
he was married to Miss Emma Gould Of Ohio.
They have no children lie continued pTaeticing
law in Lancaster until December. 1870. whess ne
removed to Minneapolis. His cousin, John A.
Rea, now OF Bismarck, was at that time actively
engaged In newspaper work II Minneapolis. and
dryx and Charles +. Hendrix, Judge Rea and
John A. Rea purchased the Tribune, and the sub
ject Of this sketch became the editor-in-chief
In May, 1876, q controlling interest IN theIrip-
une. then q morning paper, was purchased by
the PIONEER PRESS and converted into an even
ing paper. Judge Rea, a minority stakeholder,
continued as editor until May, 1877, when he
RESUMED THE PRACTICE OF Law
and became a member Of the firm of Rea, Hooker
& Woolley. This firm was subsequently, changed
and becagse Rea. Woolley a. KItcheh. and subse-
quently Rea. Kitchell d Shaw. In November,
1877. he was elected Judge Of probate, and
served for four years with conspicuous ability.
He continued his relationship, however, with the
law firm with which he was connected. This
firm had, probably, the LARGEST practice Of any
in the city. In April 1896. Judge Koon re-
signed his seat on Che bench of the district court
OF this district. and in response TO the very gen
eral wish Of the Hennepin county bar Gov. HUB
bard appointed Judge Rea. He now rms that
position Of honor andresponsibiltty. Judge Rea
has always been prominent IN the Grand lrny
He is a member and past commander OF George
N. Morgan post. and his voice Is always heard
on any occasion where the interests Of the old
soldier are involved. He is q forcible public
speaker. fnfusing pathos and power into his
utterances. He is J. thorough going Republican.
and has always taken an active interest in poll
tics, hut his is not offensive partisanship, and
the necessity Of excluding political matters
from the realm Of the G. A. r. is with him a car
dinal principle. He has already held the posi-
tion OF senior vice commander Of the national
organization. Personally he is one Of tie most
genial OF nsezt aud he Is the last sstsa L. The
world to fnjure anotner's feelings IN any way.
The result is. he has a host Of friends to rejoice
over his latest and greatest honor aHG no ene-
mics To lament the event.